How Preventive Maintenance Can Stop a Catastrophe

Owning a house means you’ll need to dedicate time and effort to help prevent disasters. Regular services and caring for your home will prolong the life of your home’s systems. Daily wear and tear along with weather damage can cause problems with your home’s exterior, interior and mechanical systems. Take a look at these tips for preventive maintenance in your Delaware home.

Home Interior

Homeowners should inspect doors and windows that are in need of caulking or repair to save energy and avoid leaks. You should also check your chimney and have it cleaned by a professional before use to prevent a chimney fire. Also take a close look at the grout around sinks, tubs and showers and recaulk any brittle or worn caulk.

In your laundry room, be sure to clean out the lint in your clothes dryer to avoid a fire, save energy and keep your dryer working properly for years to come. Inspect the smoke detectors in your home and replace the batteries twice a year to keep your home safe. (Many people replace batteries when clocks are set ahead in the spring and when they are set back in the fall.) Check with the manufacturer on the lifespan of the alarm, and replace them as necessary.

Mechanical Systems

The most preventive steps you can take for your home are performed on the heating and cooling, electrical and plumbing systems. Regularly change the filters in your air conditioning and heating systems, and have your air conditioning looked at during the spring and your heating system checked before the winter weather. Check your plumbing to ensure that your pipes are well insulated and aren’t leaking.

Remove sediment by draining your hot water heater and check the pressure relief valve to make sure it is functioning properly. To keep your electrical system safe and working properly, trip your circuit breakers and inspect for frayed wires and cords and for any exposed wiring.

Home Exterior

Keep your gutters and downspouts clear from debris and make sure that they are functioning properly and draining away from your home. Look for noticeable cracks in your stucco or brick, rotting wood and peeling paint that may need repairing.

Check your roof for loose or damaged shingles to prevent your roof from leaking and flooding the interior of your home.

Your Lawn and Grounds

Trim your trees, bushes and shrubs regularly to keep your yard looking beautiful and to prevent them from growing onto your roof or other structures on your home. If your greenery is too close to a power line, the overgrown shrubs and trees can cause hefty damage when there is ice, snow or high winds.

Shrubbery that has grown near your home can block the airflow in your home. As a homeowner, you should inspect for any rotted wood and clean the leaves and debris from your wooden deck to avoid mildew.